Why should you always begin to use a microscope with the low-power objective?

• A. It prevents the need for adjusting the coarse focus knob.
• B. It provides a wider field of view, making it easier to locate the specimen.
• C. It increases the magnification immediately for detailed observation.
• D. It reduces the amount of light passing through the specimen.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of starting with the low-power objective on a microscope: it is designed to give a broader view of the specimen area.
2. Recognize that the low-power objective provides a wider field of view, which means you can see more of the slide at once, making it easier to locate the area of interest.
3. Note that starting with higher magnification objectives (like medium or high power) narrows the field of view, making it harder to find the specimen initially.
4. Remember that once the specimen is located under low power, you can switch to higher magnification objectives for detailed observation without losing the specimen.
5. Conclude that using the low-power objective first is a practical step to efficiently and effectively find and focus on the specimen before increasing magnification.